Influence of Co doping on phase, structure and electrochemical properties of hydrothermally obtained CoxZn1-xFe2O4 (x = 0.0-0.4) nanoparticles

Thanin Putjuso; Sasitorn Putjuso; Attaphol Karaphun; Pairot Moontragoon; Isara Kotutha; Ekaphan Swatsitang

doi:10.1038/s41598-023-29830-3

Influence of Co doping on phase, structure and electrochemical properties of hydrothermally obtained Co_xZn_1-xFe₂O₄ (x = 0.0-0.4) nanoparticles

Sci Rep. 2023 Feb 13;13(1):2531. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-29830-3.

Authors

Thanin Putjuso¹, Sasitorn Putjuso¹, Attaphol Karaphun^{2

3}, Pairot Moontragoon^{2

3}, Isara Kotutha⁴, Ekaphan Swatsitang^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physics and Mathematics, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin, Wang Klai Kangwon Campus, Hua Hin, 77110, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand.
² Institute of Nanomaterials Research and Innovation for Energy (IN-RIE), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
³ Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
⁴ Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology ISAN, Khon Kaen Campus, Khon Kaen, 40000, Thailand.
⁵ Institute of Nanomaterials Research and Innovation for Energy (IN-RIE), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand. ekaphan@kku.ac.th.
⁶ Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand. ekaphan@kku.ac.th.

Abstract

In this work, Co_xZn_1-xFe₂O₄ (x = 0.0-0.4) nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method at 200 °C for 12 h. X-ray diffraction revealed a pure cubic spinel phase of all samples with space group Fd-3m. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry disclosed the vibrational modes of metal oxides in the spinel structure. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy disclosed a uniform distribution of cuboidal shape NPs with a decreased average NPs size from 22.72 ± 0.62 to 20.85 ± 0.47 nm as the Co content increased. X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy results confirmed the presence of Zn²⁺, Co²⁺ and Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ in Co-doped samples. The pore volume, pore size and specific surface area were determined using N₂ gas adsorption/desorption isotherms by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) techniques. Electrochemical properties of supercapacitors, having active Co_xZn_1-xFe₂O₄ (x = 0.0-0.4) NPs as working electrodes, indicated pseudo-capacitor performance related to the Faradaic redox reaction. Interestingly, the highest specific capacitance (Csc), 855.33 F/g at 1 A/g, with a capacity retention of 90.41% after 1000 GCD cycle testing was achieved in the Co_0.3Zn_0.7Fe₂O₄ electrode.